Cork Architectural Firm Award: Best City Skyline Contribution

[lexington]

I believe, given the current development climate in the city, it would be a positive step to encourage architectural practices active in Cork to continue producing excellent standards of design throughout the city in its regeneration. A few designs of late have been of a high-quality BUT we need and must continue to keep pushing the bar higher and higher.

Obviously each firm will be subject to variables - such as budget, time, requirements, site shape/size etc etc, but good practice will maximise architectural capacity given such constraints. Considering this, I propose a bi-annual 'vote' by interested parties to determine and award the firm believed to Best Contribute to the Cork Skyline/Regeneration.

Each term, 5 practices will be nominated for designs in planning, under construction or recently completed - a vote will open for 2 weeks - and, at the end of those 2 weeks, a winner and runner-up will be determined by the users of Archiseek (a collective of those with architectural and development interest; engineers; developers; architects; surveyors; planners and so on - believe me, there are quite a few). The outcome will reflect the opinion of these persons (aforementioned) with respect to whom the believe they deserve the title.

Firms cannot be considered each seperate term for buildings included in the prior nominations list - that is, the list that follows this term, cannot be included in the next, and must be based upon new designs which have surfaced in planning, begun construction or completion with the designated term period.

I would hope that in each term, we may reapproach this thread to vote on the next nominations. I am also hoping that the vote is afforded a proper poll - but obviously that is subject to the powers that be (it has been requested).

[lexington]

PERIOD ONE: December 2004 - May 2005

1. Please indicate your preference by what you genuinely believe to be the firm which has BEST contributed to the Cork Skyline within this term, mentioned above.

2. You are kindly requested to vote only once, in the interests of fairness.

3. List your preference with a single Number or Practice Name (1 only - that which you believe to be the best. No need to list in order of preference).
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Nominated Firms

1. Wilson Architecture

- projects at Eglinton Street (O'Flynn Construction)


and St. Patrick's Quay (The Kenny Group)

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2. Murray O'Laoire

- for Water Street (Werdna Developments)


and Centre Park Road (McCarthy Developments)
[Image Coming Soon]
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3. Coughlan de Keyser

- for No.5 & No.6 Lapps Quay (O'Flynn Construction)


and Centre Point (Clontarf Street - for DAT Partnerships)


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4. Patrick A. Cashman & Associates

- for 21 Lavitts Quay (O'Callaghan Properties)

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5. Scott Tallon Walker

for City Quarter (Howard Holdings)


and WebWorks (also Howard Holdings)
Existing Images unsuitable (but available at request) - better images soon!
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[pier39]

oooo! thats a tough one but what the hell...

i suppose...

....1. wilson architects.

ahh thats my job done!

[Radioactiveman]

4. Patrick A. Cashman & Associates

- for 21 Lavitts Quay (O'Callaghan Properties)


Has to be this one. OCP HQ has transformed Lavitts Quay already.

[d_d_dallas]

Lex,
should this not be constricted to *completed* project only? From what I know about e.g. Wilson's projects they deserve some recognition, but neither project has even cleared the planning process let alone begun construction. Sometimes things don't impress in the flesh quite the way they do in photmontages.

[lexington]

Lex,
should this not be constricted to *completed* project only? From what I know about e.g. Wilson's projects they deserve some recognition, but neither project has even cleared the planning process let alone begun construction. Sometimes things don't impress in the flesh quite the way they do in photmontages.

I agree that this is true, however, photomontage or no, the general design I think is the conveyable by these representations.

[PTB]

Judging by those new photos I'd vote for wilson architechts But I'm surprised that Coughlan de Keyser got nominated for their pyschadelic pink and blue boxes

[ewankennedy]

I'll probably go with Wilson architecture on this one, but that said, driving passed No.6 Lapps quay there earlier today I have to say i'm very impressed with it now that the scaffolding is coming down. That whole quay looks very well. So if there was a 2nd place it would go to Coughlan de keyser architects if you include the Clontarf st building too. But Radioactiveman is right about 21 Lavitts quay too - that building has enriched what was a ugly old quayside immeasurably! its very impressive I have to say. But Wilson snags it with Eglinton st and Patricks quay.

[genario]

This is a very difficult idea for me because I must think which firm is best shaping Cork for better ways of architecture. From the pictures I have looked at in this page i think that Wilson architects seem to be more 'adventurous' with their designs but Clontarf street and 21 Lavits Quay are also most interesting. This is very difficult, but may I say also Wilson.

What do you also think????

[Jack White]

should this not be constricted to *completed* project only? From what I know about e.g. Wilson's projects they deserve some recognition, but neither project has even cleared the planning process let alone begun construction. Sometimes things don't impress in the flesh quite the way they do in photmontages.

Very wise words.